2026 Best Value Construction Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Construction Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/construction-engineering-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong construction engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for construction engineering technology students.
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2026 Best Value Construction Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the construction engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Construction Engineering Technology Schools
Macomb Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value construction engineering technology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the construction engineering technology program here. Construction Engineering Technology graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Columbus State Community College one of the best values for construction engineering technology. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Construction Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Northwest one of the best values for construction engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Construction Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. Construction Engineering Technology graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $68,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,083 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value construction engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Typical student debt for construction engineering technology graduates is $22,590. Construction Engineering Technology graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $58,954 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ferris State University earned it the #5 place for construction engineering technology. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for construction engineering technology graduates is $13,000. Early-career construction engineering technology graduates make about $54,608. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Wayne State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value construction engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Construction Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Soon after graduation, construction engineering technology degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $53,310. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #7 for value in construction engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Typical student debt for construction engineering technology graduates is $24,855. Construction Engineering Technology graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $67,110 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,855 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Toledo came in at #8 for value in construction engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for construction engineering technology graduates is $24,225. Early-career construction engineering technology graduates make about $65,585. That is a strong return on a $24,225 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Michigan State University earned the #9 position for value in construction engineering technology this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Construction Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $25,363 in student loans. Early-career construction engineering technology graduates make about $74,518. That is a strong return on a $25,363 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
